Summaries for Lucey-Driscoll Syndrome

NIH Rare Diseases:46 Lucey-driscoll syndrome, a form of transient familial hyperbilirubinemia, is a rare metabolic disorder that leads to very high levels of bilirubin in a newborn's blood. babies with this disorder may be born with severe jaundice (yellow skin), yellow eyes and lethargy. it occurs when the body does not properly break down (metabolize) a certain form of bilirubin. if untreated, this condition can cause seizures, neurologic problems (kernicterus) and even death. treatment for lucey-driscoll syndrome includes phototherapy with blue light (to treat the high level of bilirubin in the blood) and an exchange transfusion is sometimes necessary. different inheritance patterns have been reported and in some cases, it occurs in individuals with no family history of the condition.
last updated: 11/15/2010